Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: The Toronto-born Anthony Camara was a key player for the Mississauga Senators of the GTHL (Midget AAA). In 50 games, Camara scored 31 goals with 25 assists. In five games in the OHL Showcase Tournament, Camara scored 1 goal with 2 assists and accumulated 10 PMs. Camara was selected by the Saginaw Spirit in the 1st round (14th overall) of the 2009 OHL Priority draft.

2009-10: Camara opened eyes with his physical play as an OHL rookie with Saginaw. While his offensive numbers were mediocre (6 goals and 6 assists in 65 games), his speed and checking ability earned him regular playing time and his toughness made him a popular teammate. Camara finished with 96 PMs and was -9 during the regular season. After finishing fourth in the Western Division, Saginaw fell four games to two in the first round of the playoffs as Camara scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was +1 with 5 PMs.

2010-11: With Saginaw featuring five players with 60 or more points, Camara was called on to play more of a checking, defensive role. In his second season with the Spirit, he scored 8 goals with 9 assists and was -9 in 64 games. Camara topped Saginaw with 132 PMs. In 12 playoff games, he had 1 goal and 1 assist and was -4 with 25 PMs. Cited as one of the league’s hardest body checkers in an informal OHL coaches’ poll, Camara’s physical play seemed a natural match for Boston. The Bruins selected him in the 3rd round (81st overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

2011-12: Camara returned to Saginaw for his third OHL season after attending camp with the Bruins. In January 2012 he was part of a multi-player trade between the Spirit and the Barrie Colts. He scored 6 goals with a career-high 12 assists in 35 games and was minus-seven with 76 penalty minutes with Saginaw prior to the trade. In 31 games for Barrie he scored 9 goals with 5 assists and was minus-one with 59 penalty minutes. He continued to provide toughness and in-your-face play during the playoffs while chipping in offensively. He had 22 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games for the Colts and was minus-three; scoring 2 goals with 3 assists. Barrie reached the second round after finishing second in the Central Division.

2012-13: Camara was the second-leading goal scorer for Barrie in his fourth OHL season and played for Canada in the 2013 World Junior Championship. He scored 36 goals with 24 assists in 50 games for the Colts, missing time due to two suspensions, and was +17 with 91 penalty minutes. Barrie finished first in the Central Division and reached the OHL Finals; taking a three games to one lead on London before the Knights won three straight. Camara scored 9 goals with 7 assists in 16 playoff games, including 3 goals and 3 assists in the series against London, but was suspended for the final two games after receiving his third game misconduct penalty of the playoffs. In six games at the WJC he had 2 assists and was +1 with 31 penalty minutes. Canada lost to Russia, 6-5 in overtime, in the bronze medal game. Camara signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Bruins in March, 2013.

2013-14: Camara skated in 58 games for Bruins AHL affiliate Providence in his first pro season. He scored 9 goals with 13 assists and was +2 with 50 penalty minutes. Providence finished third in the Atlantic Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Camara missed the AHL playoffs with an upper body injury.

Talent Analysis

Camara plays a no-nonsense, keep-it-simple physical style similar to that of former Bruins' veteran forward Shawn Thornton. While he embraces that side of the game, there are offensive elements to his game, too. He is not a pure, instinctive goal scorer, but has legitimate skating and stickhandling skills and can contribute on the offensive end of the ice. Camara sees the ice well and is an accurate passer. One of the tougher players in the Bruins' system he is willing to drop the gloves if necessary.

Future

Camara was slowed by an undisclosed illness at the end of Boston's training camp and was subsequently assigned to AHL affiliate Providence at the start of the 2014-15 season. Now in his second pro season, he has played more of a lower line, energy role with Providence. With several gifted scorers in the lineup, Camara understands his role and tries to fill it to the best of his ability. Long-term that will likely be his niche if he reaches the NHL level.

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